Flora

This is one of the larger sections of the library covering plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits.

This collection comprises images from numerous beautiful florilegia such as Basil Besler’s “Hortus Eystettensis” and “Hortus Floridus” by Van der Passe. Magnificent baskets and bouquets are provided by Baptiste / Monnoyer and Messager Bonnart among others.

A number of folios encompass flowers and the insects and birds which live and feed off the plants; such examples include “Dissertatio de Generatione et Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium” and “De Europische Insecten” by MS Merian and Jollain’s “Nouveau Livre
de Fleurs Feuilles & Oiseaux”.

Fruits and vegetables are depicted by many engravers but are particularly well displayed in Volkamer’s book of citrus fruits with detailed backgrounds of houses and gardens.

  1. “Dissertatio de Generatione et Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium”, Pineapple – MS Merian (1719).
  2. “Livres de Fleurs ou sont representes touttes sortes de Tulippes”, Frontispiece – Le Clerc / Langlois (1620).
  3. “Hortus Eystettensis”, Poma Amoris Fructu Rubro – B Besler (1613).
  4. Bouquet – Baptiste (17th century).
  5. Lemon – Volkamer (1644-1720).
  6. “Naauwkeurige Beschryving der Aardgewassen”, Aloe Americana Minor – Munting (1696).